Letter to the Editor

Levy affects safety, future of teens

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Dear editor:

We're all taught from a young age, "Fight for what you believe in."

I cannot stand by and watch my school and town go downhill because of this levy. I am 16 years old in Mountain Home High, a cheerleader part of the speech and debate team, and a member of the choir. This levy not only affects our high school sports and activities but the town as a whole.

I think this levy should pass for three main reasons ­-- educators' work positions, the safety of our teens and our local economy.

Many teachers in our district have been with our district for quite some time. I have spoken with a couple of them and they have all said they would rather have a 4 percent decrease (in pay) than see our sports go. Talking to a teacher I found out that if this levy does not pass there will be a cut in our classes. Many advanced subjects would be cut or limited in the number of classes that are held on each subject, thus meaning many teachers could lose their jobs. Also, there will still be an 18 percent pay cut in teachers' salaries (if the levy fails), and yes, many other jobs are experiencing pay cuts as well, but we need our educators. They are the ones forming what our future will become.

This levy affects the safety of our teens. Looking around my school, at least 75 percent of the students are active in not only sports but other activities, such as debate and choir. Our school has excelled greatly, not only in sports, but the other activities that are getting cut. Our school ranks in the top five in Idaho in soccer, basketball, football, volleyball and baseball. Our debate team has won four tournaments this year and is sending 11 kids to nationals.

Every sport has the same rule: "Must maintain a 2.0 GPA to play." Because of this rule many students are doing everything possible to do well in school.

All most teens have to do is their sports. Believe it or not this town is really not "teen oriented," there really isn't much to do. We have the bowling alley, parks and Wal-Mart to "hang out at." The only way for a teen to "survive" and have fun without getting into harmful and dangerous situations, is to participate in sports and activities provided by the school.

Also, I found out many teens are into sports and other activities looking for scholarship opportunities. We all know how expensive college is and many families cannot afford it. Many kids need sports and extracurricular activities for their chance to get into college. If this levy does not pass it will literally leave our teens in this town in a hole, with nothing to do, and detrimental to our future.

Sports and extracurricular activities affect our local economy majorly. Mountain Home is a small town, pretty much in the middle of nowhere. If the levy doesn't pass and teachers either get a large pay cut or worse, lose their jobs, it could prevent them from buying a new car, or going out to eat, etc. therefore causing money to stop circulating.

Also, sports and other activities bring money to this town. When there is a home game for football or basketball the visiting team has to eat somewhere, so they stop at McDonalds, Wendy's or Jack in the Box, spending their money in our town. When the "Talking Tigers" debate team hosts their annual two-day "U-Bus-2-Us" tournament, teams come from all over Idaho. Many stay overnight, paying the hotels, and visiting schools order pizza throughout the day, spending money and putting it to the town, thus helping our economy.

We all know this levy is a big deal, and affects everyone. I understand that the tax raise is a little much, for just sports. It's not only sports, it's also the extracurricular activities. If it is not passed many teachers could lose their jobs, and kids could lose scholarship opportunities.

Our town as a whole could dwindle down majorly, and the quality of our teens will be vastly affected. Whether you're 18 or 80, on the behalf of the students of Mountain Home, and the future of our town, I implore you to vote "YES" and pass this levy.

Elizabeth S. Lynn